Springfield police seize loaded gun, trafficking amounts of fentanyl and cocaine

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit detectives arrested a 24-year-old man and seized a loaded firearm along with trafficking amounts of fentanyl and cocaine Thursday afternoon.

Shaunty Jenkins of Springfield was taken into custody at approximately 5:20 p.m. on the 200 block of Union Street following a vehicle crash with a Hampden County Sheriff’s Department cruiser.

Police had been investigating illegal drug distribution from a home on the 0-100 block of Manchester Terrace for several weeks and identified Jenkins as a suspect.

Jenkins also had an outstanding warrant from Springfield District Court.

Detectives conducting surveillance located Jenkins in a vehicle Thursday afternoon and attempted a traffic stop.

Jenkins drove his vehicle into the sheriff’s cruiser, which had its emergency lights activated.

Two sheriff’s deputies in the cruiser were transported to Baystate Medical Center to evaluate their injuries.

Detectives took Jenkins into custody immediately following the crash and released his female passenger from the scene.

Inside a fanny pack Jenkins was wearing, detectives recovered heroin, powder cocaine, crack cocaine and a loaded firearm.

A search of the vehicle yielded suspected fentanyl and heroin.

Detectives recovered approximately $293 in cash, 552 bags or 11 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 14 grams of powder cocaine and 47 grams of crack cocaine.

Jenkins faces multiple charges including carrying a loaded firearm without a license, trafficking cocaine and fentanyl, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.